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加拉太书生命读经 · 第29篇

如何挽回堕落者，如何完全满足基督的律法，以及如何撒种

How To Restore The Fallen One, How To Fulfill The Law Of Christ, And How To Sow
1读经：加拉太书六章一至十节。加拉太六章一至十节乃是延续保罗在五章末了的话。保罗在五章二十五节嘱咐我们要凭著灵而行。他在六章一至十节将凭著灵而行这事加以发挥。他在这几节经文里说到三件事：如何挽回堕落者，如何完全满足基督的律法，以及如何为著那灵撒种。我们要作到这三件事，就需要转到我们的灵里，并且凭著灵而行。
1Scripture Reading: Gal. 6:1-10 Galatians 6:1-10 is a continuation of Paul’sword at the end of chapter five. In 5:25 Paul charges us to walk by the Spirit. In 6:1-10 Paul develops this matter of walking by the Spirit. In these verses he covers three things: how to restore one who has fallen, how to fulfill the law of Christ, and how to sow unto the Spirit. For all three, we need to turn to our spirit and walk by the Spirit
壹 如何挽回堕落者
I. HOW TO RESTORE THE FALLEN ONE
2加拉太六章一节说，『弟兄们，即使有人偶然为某种过犯所胜，你们属灵的人，也当用温柔的灵挽回这样的人，可是要当心自己，免得也被试诱。』属灵的人，即凭著灵活著，并凭著灵而行的人。这是真正属灵惟一的路。那些属灵的人应当周温柔的灵挽回堕落的人。温柔的灵是指我们重生、有圣灵内住并调和的灵。这样一种温柔的灵，乃是五章十六节、二十五节所说，凭著灵活著，并凭著灵而行的结果。我们要注意保罗说到温柔的灵。我们所需要的温柔，必须是在我们的灵里。我们的所作所为，源头应当是我们的灵，而不只是我们仁慈的心而已。因此，这节指明我们在日常生活行动上所作的每一件事，都应当是在我们的灵里，并且是出自我们的灵而作的。
2Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers, if ever a man is overtaken in some offense, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also are tempted.” Those who are spiritual are those who live and walk by the Spirit. This is the only way to be genuinely spiritual. Those who are spiritual should restore one who has fallen in a spirit of meekness. This is our regenerated spirit, indwelt by and mingled with the Holy Spirit. Such a spirit is the issue of living and walking by the Spirit. Notice that Paul speaks of a spirit of meekness. The meekness we need must be in our spirit. The source of what we do should be our spirit, not simply our kind heart. Therefore, this verse indicates that everything we do in our daily walk should be done in our spirit and from our spirit
贰 如何完全满足基督的律法
II. HOW TO FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST
3保罗在六章二节接著说，『你们的重担要彼此担当，这样就完全满足了基督的律法。』有些解经家说，基督的律法在此是指主叫我们彼此相爱的诫命。照他们所言，基督的律法就是爱的律法。这是正确的。但我们必须进一步看见，基督的律法乃是指藉著爱运行、更高更好的生命之律。（罗八2，约十三34。)爱的律法，就是基督的律法，乃是生命的律法。爱是彰显，但生命是本质。真实的爱是由神圣的生命产生出来的。保罗在林前十三章所描述的爱，乃是神圣生命的彰显。不仅如此，爱乃是那灵的果子，（加五22，)这事实指明爱的本质必须是那灵。事实上，一切属灵的美德都必须有那灵连同神圣的生命为其本质。基督的律法，也就是爱的律法，必须由生命之灵的律将其实化。这就是我们说六章二节『基督的律法』是指『生命之律』的原因。生命之律藉著爱的律得著彰显，使我们能彼此担当重担。这样，我们就完全满足了基督的律法。
3In 6:2 Paul continues, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Some expositors say that the law of Christ here refers to the Lord’s commandment that we love one another. According to them, the law of Christ is the law of love. This is correct. However, we must go on to see that the law of Christ is the higher and better law of life which works through love (Rom. 8:2; John 13:34). The law of love, which is the law of Christ, is the law of life. Love is the expression, but life is the substance. Real love is that which issues from the divine life. The love described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 is the expression of the divine life. Furthermore, the fact that love is a fruit of the Spirit indicates that the substance of love must be the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). In fact, all spiritual virtues must have the Spirit with the divine life as their substance. The law of Christ, which is the law of love, must be substantiated by the divine life. This is the reason we say that the law of Christ in 6:2 denotes the law of life. Expressed by the law of love, the law of life will cause us to bear one another’s burdens. In this way we fulfill the law of Christ.
4保罗在三节说，『人若不是甚么，还以为是甚么，就是自欺了。』表面看3来，三节与二节没有甚么关联；实际上这两节之间有非常真实又有意义的关联。那些以为自己是甚么的人，不会担当别人的重担。只有以为自己不是甚么的人，因著在灵里并凭著灵而行，就自然产生一种结果，担当别人的重担。你也许会说，有些自以为是甚么的人，似乎也担当别人的重担。但这只是一种外面的表演、己的展现，而不是真正担当别人的重担。在主的眼中，这样的人并没有真实的担当别人的重担；相反的，他认为自己了不起，就抓住机会来表现自己。毫无疑问，保罗是按照他自己的经历来写这几节圣经。他从经历中领悟，只有当我们自以为无有的时候，我们才自然的，甚至不自觉的担当别人的重担。我们并不高估自己的所作。我们这样作，只因为我们在灵里并凭著灵而行。我们凭著灵而行，就受那灵引导去作一些事。结果，我们就不自觉的担当了别人的重担。保罗的话语简单而简短，却是满了经历。
4In verse 3 Paul says, “For if anyone think she is something, being nothing, he deceives himself.” Apparently there is no connection between verse and verse 2; actually there is a very real and significant connection. Those who think of themselves as something will not bear the burdens of others. Only those who do not regard themselves as anything will bear others’ burdens. Perhaps you would say that certain ones who consider themselves to be something seem to bear the burdens of others. However, this is merely an outward show, the exhibition of the self, not the genuine bearing of someone else’s burden. In the eyes of the Lord, such a person does not actually bear anyone’s burden. Instead, thinking himself to be somebody, he takes advantage of an opportunity to display himself. No doubt, Paul wrote these verses according to his experience. From experience he realized that it is when we consider ourselves as nothing that we spontaneously, even unconsciously, bear the burdens of others. We do not place a high estimate on what we do. We simply do it because we are walking in the Spirit and by the Spirit. Walking by the Spirit, we are led of the Spirit to do certain things. The result is that we bear someone’s burden without even realizing it. Paul’sword is simple and brief, but it is full of experience.
5保罗在六章六节说，『只是那在话语上受教的，当与施教的人共同分享一切的美物。』这节的美物是指今生的美物，日常的必需品。甚至在分享这些东西的事上，我们也可以完全满足基督的律法，就是照著生命之律而成全爱的律法。
5In 6:6 Paul says, “But let him who is instructed in the word share with him who instructs in all good things.” The good things in this verse refer to things which are good for this life, the necessities of daily living. Even in the matter of sharing such things, we may fulfill the law of Christ, fulfilling the law of love according to the law of life
参 如何撒种
III. HOW TO SOW
6保罗在六章七至十节说到如何撒种这件事。他在七节警告说，『不要受迷惑，神是嗤慢不得的，因为人种的是甚么，收的也是甚么。』不要受迷惑这个警戒，指出犹太教徒虚假的教训，使加拉太人偏离他们灵里的那灵，转到凭他们肉体的律法。
6In 6:7-10 Paul covers the matter of how to sow. In verse 7 he warns, “Do not be led astray, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he shall also reap.” The admonition not to be led astray was spoken in reference to the false teachings of the Judaizers. These teachings led the Galatians astray from the Spirit in their spirit to the law by their flesh.
7撒种这件事相当奥秘。我们种的是甚么，我们撒种的目的是甚么？有的人认为保罗所说的撒种，是指前面说过的担当别人的重担，以及将生活必需品分享给有需要的人。照这样的领会，一个人若为著在话语上服事主之人的日常所需而奉献，就是为著那灵撒种了。我同意这是有关保罗撒种的话一种合式的应用。然而，我们对于撒种的领会不该只限于这件事而已。以后我们要点出，撒种涵盖我们基督徒生活的全部。八节说，『为著自己的肉体撒种的，必从肉体收败坏；为著那灵撒种的，必从那灵收永远的生命。』为著自己的肉体撒种，就是为著自己肉体的愿望和目的，满足自己肉体的贪婪而撒种；为著那灵撒种，就是为著那灵的愿望和目的，成就那灵的愿望而撒种。为著满足肉体的目的而撒种，结果乃是败坏；为著成就那灵的目的而撒种，结果乃是生命，就是永远的生命。败坏属于肉体，指明肉体是败坏的；永远的生命属于那灵，且是那灵自己。我们所作的一切，都是撒种，或是为著自己的肉体，或是为著那灵。一切的撒种，都有收成，或是从肉体收败坏，或是从那灵收永远的生命。无论我们在那里，无论我们作甚么，我们都是在撒种。你工作时撒种，在学校时也撒种。长老们看顾召会是撒种，服事话语的人在服事的时候也撒种。丈夫与妻子不停的在他们的婚姻生活中撒种。作父母的也在他们的家庭生活中撒种。作父母的对儿女所说的每一句话，以及对儿女所作的每一件事，都是一粒种子撒到儿女里面。我们天天都在撒种。基督徒的生活乃是撒种的生活，我们生活与工作的场所乃是我们的农场。就连你如何穿著，如何梳理头发，也是在撒种。事实上，你所作的每一件事，都是撒种的行为。我们需要明白，基督
7The matter of sowing is quite mysterious. What is it that we sow, and for what purpose do we sow? Some may understand Paul’sword about sowing to refer to what he has previously spoken about bearing the burdens of others and about sharing the necessities of life with those who have need. According to this understanding, if one contributes to the daily need of a person serving the Lord in the Word, he is then sowing to the Spirit. I would agree that this is a proper application of Paul’s word about sowing. However, our understanding of sowing should not be limited to this matter. As we shall seek to point out, sowing covers the totality of our Christian life. Verse 8 says, “Because he who sows unto his own flesh, shall reap corruption of the flesh, but he who sows unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.” To sow unto the flesh is to sow with a view to the flesh, or for the flesh, with the purpose of the flesh in view, fulfilling what the flesh covets. To sow unto the Spirit is to sow for the Spirit, with the aim of the Spirit, accomplishing what the Spirit desires. To sow for the fulfilling of the purpose of the flesh issues in corruption; to sow for the accomplishing of the aim of the Spirit issues in life, even eternal life. Corruption is of the flesh, indicating that the flesh is corrupted; eternal life is of the Spirit and is the Spirit Himself. Everything we do is some kind of sowing, either to the flesh or to the Spirit. Wherever we may be and whatever we are doing, we are sowing seeds. You sow at work and also at school. The elders sow while they are caring for the church, and those who minister the Word sow as they minister. Husbands and wives are constantly sowing in their married life, and parents are sowing in their family life. Everything parents say to their children and do with them is a seed sown into them. Day by day we all are sowing. The Christian life is a life of sowing. Furthermore, the place where we live and work is our farm. You are sowing even by the way you dress or style your hair. Virtually everything you do is an act of sowing. It is crucial for us to realize that the Christian walk must be a walk by the Spirit and a life of sowing to the Spirit.
8徒的生活行动必须是凭著灵而行，也必须是为著那灵撒种的生活；这是十分要紧的。
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9保罗写六章一至十节这许多紧要的点时，显出极大的智慧。我们看过，他说到用温柔的灵挽回堕落的人，以及藉著供给满足人的需要，来完全满足基督的律法这些事。然后他又告诉我们，不要受迷惑，因为神是嗤慢不得的。我们不需要走得很远而受迷惑。我们甚至可能在思想上受迷惑。但神是嗤慢不得的，我们不能欺骗神。祂知道我们的所是，也知道我们在作甚么。因此保罗警戒我们，要当心如何撒种。我们不该为著肉体撒种，反要为著那灵撒种，看见我们所说所作的一切，都是我们日常撒种的一部分。
9Paul showed marvelous wisdom in his writing of 6:1-10, covering a number of crucial points. As we have seen, he speaks of things such as restoring a fallen one in a spirit of meekness and of fulfilling the law of Christ by giving something to meet the need of another. Then he tells us not to be led astray, since God is not mocked. There is no need for us to go far off to be led astray. We may be led astray even in our thinking. But God is not mocked, and we cannot deceive Him. He knows what we are and what we are doing. Thus, Paul admonishes us to take care of our sowing. Instead of sowing to the flesh, we should sow to the Spirit, realizing that everything we say or do is part of our daily sowing.
10在我们的经历里，肉体应当被钉十字架。保罗在五章二十四节说，『但那属基督耶稣的人，是已经把肉体连肉体的邪情私欲，都钉了十字架。』我们不该继续照著肉体生活行动。我们不该在肉体里表明我们的态度。父母对儿女说话需要在灵里，并照著灵。否则父母所说的就是为著肉体撒种。我们也该小心如何表明自己的态度。就连我们态度的表现，也可能是照著肉体撒种。另一方面，我们表示自己的态度，也可能是为著那灵撒种。我们在发表意见的时候也该谨慎。你有把握你是照著那灵发表意见么？你如果没有把握，就要当心，免得你是为著肉体撒种。如果我们一天过一天都为著那灵撒种，许多难处就会消除。在召会生活以及家庭生活里的难处自然会减少。许多问题与难处，都是来自为著肉体撒种。种子是微小的。你看过农夫撒直径一呎的种子么？不，农夫撒的种子是微小的。我们撒种也是一样。我们也许认为某些事情微不足道，如一点闲话或一点批评；但这些都是种子，撒进人的里面。你曾否问自己，撒了多少不照著灵，而照著肉体的种子到别人里面？在召会生活中，我们不停在撒微小的种子。甚至一位弟兄看别人的眼光也是一粒种子。当我们批评、争辩、定罪的时候，实在就是为著肉体撒种。原则上，我们所说所作的一切，都是一粒种子─不是为著那灵撒的种子，就是为著肉体撒的种子。我们种的是甚么，收的就是甚么。我们若为著肉体撒种，必从肉体收败坏；我们若为著那灵撒种，必从那灵收永远的生命。我知道有些同工和长老收了败坏，因为他们为著肉体撒种。他们在一个地方待得越久，就越不容易留在那里。这个难处乃是为著肉体撒种的结果。因为周周、月月、年年为著肉体撒种，结果这些同工和长老必须离开到别处去。
10In our experience, the flesh should be crucified. As Paul says in 5:24, “They who are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts.” We should not continue to walk according to the flesh. We should not be in the flesh in expressing our attitudes. In speaking to their children, parents need to be in the Spirit and according to the Spirit. Otherwise, what they say will be a sowing unto the flesh. We should also be careful of the way we express our attitude. Even the expression of an attitude may be sowing according to the flesh. On the other hand, we may express our attitude by sowing unto the Spirit. We should also be cautious in expressing opinions. Do you have the assurance that the utterance of your opinion is according to the Spirit? If not, be careful, lest you sow unto the flesh. If we all sow unto the Spirit day by day, many problems will be eliminated. The troubles in the church life and in the family life will diminish. Most problems and troubles come from sowing unto the flesh. Seeds are small. Have you ever seen a farmer sow seed which is a foot in diameter? No, the seeds a farmer sows are tiny. The same is true of our sowing. We may regard certain things as tiny— a little gossiping or a little criticizing—but they are seeds sown into others. Have you ever asked yourself how many seeds you have sown into others, seeds that are not according to the Spirit but according to the flesh? In the church life we are constantly sowing tiny seeds. Even the way one brother looks at another is a seed. We certainly sow to the flesh when we criticize, argue, or condemn. In principle, all that we say or do is a seed sown either to the flesh or to the Spirit. We shall always reap what we sow. If we sow unto the flesh, we shall reap corruption of the flesh. If we sow unto the Spirit, we shall reap eternal life of the Spirit. I know cases where co-workers and elders have reaped corruption because they sowed unto the flesh. The longer they stayed in a certain place, the more difficult it was to remain there. This difficulty was the result of sowing to the flesh. Eventually, after sowing to the flesh week by week, month by month, and year by year, these co-workers and elders had to leave and go elsewhere.
11婚姻生活中的难处也是为著肉体撒种的结果。起初丈夫和妻子可能彼此非常相爱，但经过多年为著肉体撒种，他们也许就会想要分居，甚至离婚。因为他们照著肉体撒种，所以就收败坏。随看年日过去，他们在言语、态度和情感上撒下了无数微小的种子。至终的结果就是从肉体收败坏。按照神的命定，婚姻生活与召会生活都是长久的。一位弟兄若在一个地方作长老不能持久，他就不能正确的作长老。正如一个男人的婚姻若是短暂的，他就不能正确的作丈夫。如果我们拥有的只是短暂的婚姻生活或家庭生活，这就太可怕了！我们与配偶和儿女的关系必须是长久的。同样的原则，我们对召会生活的投入也必须是长久的。但许多为著肉体撒种的人，只能暂时有分于召会生活。我们要诚实、忠实、真诚的察验自己。我们是为著肉体撒种，还是为著那灵撒种？我们若玩弄手段，为著肉体撒种，末了就会收败坏。但我们若为著那灵撒种，就会收永远的生命。一位长老若照著那灵撒种，他在一地停留得越久，他越会收永远的生命；他就不需要离开那个地方；相反的，他留在当地会非常有益处。
11Difficulties in married life are also caused by sowing to the flesh. At first, the husband and wife may have loved each other very much. But after years of sowing unto the flesh, they may want a separation or even a divorce. They reap corruption because of sowing according to the flesh. As the years have gone by, they have sowed tiny seeds of words, attitudes, and feelings. Eventually, the issue is reaping corruption of the flesh. According to God’so rd i nation, both married life and the church life are to be permanent. If a brother cannot remain an elder permanently in a certain locality, he cannot be a proper elder, just as a man cannot be a proper husband if his marriage is only temporary. How dreadful to have only a temporary married life or family life! Our relationship with our spouse and children must be permanent. In the same principle, our commitment to the church life should also be permanent. However, many of those who sow to the flesh participate in the church life only temporarily. Let us honestly, faithfully, and sincerely consider ourselves. Are we sowing unto the flesh or unto the Spirit? If we sow to the flesh by playing politics, we shall eventually reap corruption. But if we sow unto the Spirit, we shall reap life eternal. If an elder sows according to the Spirit, the longer he remains in a certain locality, the more he will reap of eternal life. There will be no need for him to leave that place. On the contrary, it will be very profitable for him to remain
12那些服事话语给主子民的人，若照著肉体来服事，撒了肉体的种子，末了就会从肉体收败坏，他们就不可能留在那个地方。但他们若照著那灵服事，撒那灵的种子，他们年年都会收永远的生命。长老与同工如何，召会中每一个肢体也如何。甚至在我们的交通中，我们也该儆醒的为著那灵撒种，而不为著肉体撒种。我们不该在肉体里爱人，却该在那灵里爱人。我们若照著肉体爱人，就会收败坏，那就是我们属肉体之爱的结果。但我们若在那灵里爱人，就会收永远的生命。保罗在五章二十五节说到凭著灵而行，在六章八节说到为著那灵撒种。实际上，凭著灵而行就是为著那灵撒种。每当我们凭著灵而行，就是为著那灵撒种。我们为著那灵撒种，至终就会收永远的生命。
12If those who minister the Word to the Lord’sp eople minister according to the flesh, sowing seeds of the flesh, they will eventually reap corruption of the flesh. This will make it impossible for them to remain in a certain place. But if they minister according to the Spirit, sowing seeds of the Spirit, they will reap eternal life year after year. What is true of the elders and of the co-workers is also true of every member of the church. Even in our fellowship we should be on the alert to sow unto the Spirit and not unto the flesh. We should not love others in the flesh, but love them in the Spirit. If we love others according to the flesh, we shall reap corruption, the issue of our fleshly love. But if we love others in the Spirit, we shall reap eternal life. In 5:25 Paul speaks of walking by the Spirit, and in 6:8, of sowing unto the Spirit. Actually, to walk by the Spirit is to sow unto the Spirit. Whenever we walk by the Spirit, we sow unto the Spirit. Sowing unto the Spirit, we eventually reap life eternal
13在召会生活里，许多年长的弟兄姊妹，多年来一直为著那灵撒种。现今他们正在收永远的生命。但是有些人却为著肉体撒种，把败坏带给自己，也带给别人。当他们有分于召会生活的时候，他们为著肉体撒种。那样的撒种破坏了他们的召会生活。结果，有的人就从召会中享受主的事上离开，而转向世界。他们自称是得了释放。不错，他们得释放脱离了那灵的约束，而去放纵肉体。这就是收败坏。我们可能为著肉体或为著那灵撒种，因而收败坏或收永远的生命。这个事实应当激励我们在言语行为上要谨慎。我们要看见，我们日常生活的点点滴滴都是在撒种，不是为著肉体撒种，就是为著那灵撒种。保罗在六章九节接著说，『我们行善，不可丧志；因为若不灰心，到了适当的9时候，就要收成。』按照上下文，九节的『行善』乃是为著那灵撒种。保罗在这节用了『收成』一辞，就与前一节的撒种连结起来。我们行善，为著那灵撒种，不可丧志。为著肉体撒种通常比为著那灵撒种更快产生结果。高等的生命往往比低等的生命成长得慢。同样的原则，我们为著那灵所撒的种子，通常比为著肉体所撒的种子成长得慢。这就是保罗鼓励我们为著那灵撒种不可丧志的原因。作长老的弟兄不该说，『我在这个城里多年来为著那灵撒种。我的劳苦显出了甚么？我看不到甚么结果。』要记得保罗的话：若不灰心，到了适当的时候，就要收成。我们为主作工，服事话语给神的儿女，照顾众召会，不该盼望我们为著那灵所撒的种子会很快的长大。我们需要像农夫一样忍耐。至终，到了适当的时候，我们就要收成。所撒的种子越宝贵，生长也越花时间。当牠们在长大的时候，我们要忍耐，不可丧志。
13In the church life there are a number of elderly brothers and sisters who have been sowing unto the Spirit throughout the years. Now they are reaping eternal life. Others, however, have brought corruption to themselves and to others by sowing unto the flesh. When they were participating in the church life, they sowed to the flesh. That kind of sowing damaged their church life. As a result, some have turned away from enjoying the Lord in the church and turned to the world. They claim to be liberated. Yes, they have been liberated from the restriction of the Spirit to the indulgence of the flesh. This is the reaping of corruption. The fact that we may sow either to the flesh or to the Spirit and thereby reap either corruption or eternal life should encourage us to be careful in what we say and do. Let us realize that everything in our daily living is a sowing either to the flesh or to the Spirit. In 6:9 Paul goes on to say, “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not faint.” According to the context, “doing good” in verse is sowing to the Spirit. Paul’su se of the word reap in this verse connects it with the foregoing verse about sowing. We should not lose heart in doing good, in sowing unto the Spirit. Sowing to the flesh usually produces a quicker result than sowing to the Spirit. A higher form of life often grows more slowly than a lower form. In the same principle, what we sow unto the Spirit will usually grow more slowly than what we sow unto the flesh. This is the reason that Paul encourages us not to lose heart in sowing unto the Spirit. A brother who is an elder should not say, “I have been in this city for years sowing unto the Spirit. What do I have to show for my labor? I don’ts ee any result.” Remember Paul’sword that in due time we shall reap, if we do not faint. In working for the Lord, in ministering the Word to the children of God, and in caring for the churches, we should not expect that what we sow unto the Spirit will grow quickly. Like farmers, we need to be patient. Eventually, in due time, we shall reap. The more precious are the things sown, the longer it will take for them to grow. While they are growing, let us be patient and not lose heart.
14保罗在六章十节说，『所以我们有了时机，就当向众人行善，尤其是向信仰之家的人。』这节圣经所说的『行善』，主要的是指供应财物给缺乏的人。（林后九6～9。)信仰之家的人，是指藉著应许生的儿女，（加四28，)就是所有藉著信，在基督里成为神儿子的人。（三。)所有在基督里的信徒，乃是宇宙的家庭，神的大家庭，是藉著信基督，不是藉著行律法而有的。这家庭就是新人，（西三10～11，)由基督的众肢体所组成，有基督作他们的构成成分。因此我们应当行善，尤其是向这家庭的人，不分种族和社会阶级，（加三28，)都当如此。
14In 6:10 Paul says, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good toward all men, and especially toward those of the household of the faith.” Doing good in this verse refers mainly to ministering material things to the needy (2 Cor. 9:6-9). The household of the faith refers to the children of promise (4:28), all the sons of God through faith in Christ (3:2 6). All believers in Christ are a universal household, the great family 26 of God through faith in Christ, not through works of law. This household, as the new man (Col. 3:10-11), is composed of all the members of Christ with Christ as their constituent. Hence, we should do good, especially toward those of this household, regardless of their race or social rank (3:28).